Sheave block construction



Feb. 2, 1960 Filed Nov. 25. 1955 lNl/NTGR. Lou/5 M.R6mv

8V H/S ATTORNEYS. HHAE/S, Kw CH, FOSTER & HARE/s Feb. 2, 1960 M. REGAN 2, 2 2

SHEAVE BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Uvvuvroa Lou/5 M. Ream/v BY H15 ATTORNEYS. HARE/6, KuscH, FOSTtII? ecHnee/s Feb. 2, 1960 L. M. REGAN 2,923,529

SHEAVE BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25. 195? 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fiy .6 9

831 z zoo) a2 a 3 44 44 47 /2- 45 L a? 5 j /6 /26 ,3/ E'IZ lNl/IENTOK. Lou/.5 M. R5 cm/v BY HIS ATTORNEYS. HARE/-3- K15 Ch F05 TEE & HzfiRR/S Feb. 2, 1960 M. REGAN 2,923,529

SHEAVE BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /NVNTOR. Lou/s M. REGAN BY HIS HTTORNfiYS. HHRR/S, K/ECH, F05 TE)? 6; HARE/s NIL 2,923,529 SHEAVE BLOCK CONSTRUCTION Louis M. Regan, Redondo Beach, Calif .assignor to Regan Forge and Engineering Company, San Pedro, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 25, 1955, Serial No. 548,916 a 7 Claims. (Cl. 254-192) This invention relates to blocks of thetraveling block and crown blOCk' type carrying *aplurality of sheaves, such'as are commonly employed with heavy equipment characteristically found especially in oil fields.

A particular object of the invention isto provide a :sheave block structure wherein a strong, durable sheave arrangement is providedthat overcomes load deflection States Patent-G oif'conventional pin orsha'ft' arrangements upon which T "sheaves are commonly mounted. I 7

Another object of the. invention .is to :p'rovide a compact and narrow sheave block structure of the indicated "nature in which all sheaves are arranged about a common axis but without a common deflect'able axle.

A still further object of the invention is to present a *sheave block structure that, when replacing parts. in the field, necessaryworking adjustments are easily )made, it be'ing'als'o an object to provide such structures which are relatively inexpensive .to manufacture, .even whererela- 'tively'largefn'umbers of sheaves, for example six 'or seven .or more sheaves, are employeddn .a'horizont'al series.

' Theinvention also hasas an objectthe employment of a plurality of load-receiving support members, some of whichintervene between sheaves ofthe assembly, whereb 'totransmit loads directly to saidsupport members at positions intermediate the ends-16f the sheave assembly, ,it being also an objecttoprovide'a supportingfheadorloadcarrying structure for the assembly which. has "direct supporting connection with such intervening support mem- "bers. A further object is .to provideannular bearings within such support members (which mayfb'ein theform of plates) to provide bearingsffor .oppositely textending "hubs of interposed'sheaves,jitbeing also an "objfectito distribute theloadfrom anygiveni'sheave to twolsuch fsupport-members at the .QPPosite'sides ,of suchs'heave.

Other objects of thetinvention, and various features of construction thereof," will be apparent to those skilled in v this art upon, reference .to the'ffollowing, specification and the'Qaccompanyingdrawingsiin which:

Fig. 1 .is .a side elevation of a .traVlinglblo'c'kconstructed' in accordance with the ,present'. invention;

,Fig. .2 is a transverse longitudinal section taken .on the "line 2-2 offFig. .4;

fIFig. Bis atop plan view as'jindicated by ithel line. 3-3 .ofFig. 2; l

.Fig. 4 is princ 'pally a vertical crossisectionallview taken as indicatedby' the line 4'4'ofFig.Z;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail on an enlarged and however, opposing the caps 26. 7 space the various pairs of hubs 14'from each other an'd Patented Feb. 2, 1960 scalein'dicating 'the mounting at o'ne endof thetrans- Verse supporting cro'ss shafts extending through th'e assembly;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross section on'an enlarged scale showing roller bearing mountings for the -sheaves about the axis of the-assembly and showingball thrust bearings for the sheaves also arranged about" the axis of the assembly, as indicated by the lines 66 of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 is partially a vertical cro'ss section throughtthe "axis of the assembly as indicated by the line 7-7*of "Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofthe general assemblyof-this invention modified to adapt it to a crown block structure;

Fig. 9 is in parta fragmentary cross sectionthr'ough the axis of the structure'as indicated by the line 99 of Fig. 8 and in part a corresponding front elevation-of the structure of Fig. 8. 20

the dominating elements of the sheave block structure-of this invention, whether a traveling block as in Figs. 1 to Having'reference particularly to Figs. 2, 4 and 6 to9,

7,'or acrovm'block as in Figs. 8 and 9, or the like, include horizontal series of pulleys or sheaves 10 provided with "the usual pulley grooves, and a series of intervening supporting beams orload' receiving plates 12 on which "the Sheaves 10 areborne through the medium of central hubs 14of the sheaves, portions of such hubs extending laterally within and in supporting engagement with an- .nular series of'roller bearings 15 which are'in'turndis- 'po'sed within central Openingsinthe beam plates '12, 'there'being a roller bearing series 15 for each hub 1'4 of each sheave in each beam plate 12. The beam plates '12 are in turn carried on suitableperipherally arranged supports beyond thesheaves 10. In the travelingblo'ck assembly, these supports are in the form of cross bolts or pins or shafts 16 (Figs. 2 and 4)"extending through integral mounting lugs 18 at thecorners 'of the beam plates 12. In the crown blo'ck structure of Figs. 8 and-9 the direct support for beam plates.,12a, instead of being cross shafts 16a, are I-beams 20 upon which rest lateral horizontally extending ends of the beam plates 12a. As

best indicated in Fig. 7, the beam plates 12 are thickened annularly at 1212 around their central openings toprovide sufiicient thickness for two roller'bearing assemblies 15 for adjacent sheaves, as above described, whereas their peripheral portions are relatively thin so as to be cleared by peripheral groove elements 22 of the sheaves'10.

A thrust tube 24, containing small grease tubes"24"a leading to the sheaves, is axially positioned within the sheave and beam plate assembly but the tube24 'does not provide a'bea'ring for any of the sheaves although clearance may be small as indicated in Fig. 6. The thrust tube 24 has both of its ends threaded at 25, these threaded ends receiving thereon threaded plate-like caps 26 which are in turn received in countersunk seats 27 in the end beam plates 12.

.As best illustrated in Fig. 6, the hubs 14 of the sheaves 10 oppose each other inthe main portion of the assembly, the outer-hubs 14 of the outermostsheaves "10, In order properly to the outer hub-s 14 from'the'caps'26, annular series of ball thrust bearings-28, these including suitable ball races, are used as shown. Since-the caps 26 are adjustable, observance of precisiontolerances in the manufacture of the sheaves 10 and theirhubs'14 and of the beam plates 12 is unnecessary, thus greatly minimizing cost of manufacture and simplifying installation. When the caps '26 are'threadedly adjusted on-rthe ends. of th'ethrus't tiibe24 to meet the spacing requirementsl'of thesh'eaves 1'0 and the intervening ball thrustbearingsZS, 'theca'ps the enlarged detail qof holes 48 in the ,this being-in the form of .clevi s 52, the upper portion -'plurality .o f upstanding lugs 26areancho redin position on the endbeam plates 12 by means of annular seriesof threaded nut-like bushings 30 which are screwed into peripheral corresponding threaded holes 31: in the :ca'ps 26 so as :to' beat at their inner ends against the adjacentseat portions-27 of the outer beam plates 12. The nut-like bushings 30;;are

countersunk Eat 32 as bestillustrated in Fig; 6 and receive 'the heads of cap screws "SS-which pass throughuthe bot- '5.

tom walls'34 of the bushings 30 and are threaded into threaded, seats 35 in the end plates 12.. i

By theadjustment means 'at 25 and the adjustment means 30 which are locked in position by the ,cap screws \33, variations in; the longitudinal dimensions of the assembly of sheaves and? beam plates 12 are easilyaccommodated. Also these adjustments make it possible to shift the entire assemblage of sheaves 10in intervening beam plates 12 and with respect to the endbearn plates 12.

The entire assembly of sheaves caps' 2r6 and thrust tube.24-of'the; traveling block of Figs. 1 to'7 is adapted to be picked up when necessary andgsuspended through a tophead 40 seen in Figs. lrto 4 and 7 which is provided witha suspension clevis 42 rollers 62 is positionedby. the usualubearing iretainer V cage 68. By these means the members of each pair of 10, beam plates 12,

(Fig. 2) at its top and with a series of depending lugs 1;

44. which depend between and serve as spacers for the mounting lugs 18 provided at the upper corners of the beam plates 12, all of these lugs,18 and 44receivingthe cross-tie shafts 16 vvhich bind the assembly of sheaves justment means and-3Q as describedabove. The anchoring of the ends of the shafts 16 isillu strated in of Fig. 5 which shows a' nut 45.

.10 and plates 12 together in a rigid operative unit, once the proper adjustment has been attained through the adthreaded .snuglyontothe end of the respective shaft; 16,

such nut 45 being received in a countersunk seat 46 in the respective end beam plate 12 and anchoredagainst rotation bya rock screw 47 entering oneof a series corresponding threaded seat 49 in the beam' plate 12.'

1A comparable supporting or suspending structure is found at the bottom of the sheave andbeamassembly,

a dependingdapered' head 50 for carrying the load through anyva'ppropriate supporting I 54 disposed between and spacing. the lower lugs 18. of the beam plates .12, all

of these lugs -18 andl54 receiving the respective crossnut ,45 i and being threaded into a u e of the head ;.having a tie bolts 16, whose ends are anchored in the end beam plates 12 as shown and described in connection with .Fig. 5. a

as previously indicated, .theroller bearing series for the ,7

the end or side beam plates 12, it is to be noted thatthe roller bear-V opposing hubs 14 of each of two adjacent sheaves 10 ,are carried'by the same intervening plate 12, andlas a result of this arrangement the load transmittedby each sheave 10. is divided so asto be passed to two difierent beam plates 12, eachintervening plate 12 taking half the load from each of two sheaves 10. As illustrated in Fig.

6, each roller bearing series, 15 include an outer bearing ring which is annularly shouldered at each side as indicated at 61 to provide bearings for the opposite ends 'ofthe rollers 62. Also, as in the form shown, adjacent outer rings 60 may be in contact witheach other at their inner edges. Each roller bearing series 15 also'ineludes an inner bearing ring- 64 which is borueuponthe radially outward directed bearing face 65 of the respec- The outer edge of eachinner bear- .tive sheave hub 14.

ingring 64'bears against a lateral shoulder .at the 14 with the corresponding side wall juncture of the, hub th IQ P Ftive sheave 10. Each series of outer bearing rings or races 60 are contiguously disposed in press fitted condition in their seats in the central open- I ing of the respective beam plate 12, and adjacent inner bearing rings or races 64 are out of contact with each other, being press fitted against their'lateral seats 66.

The relationship of the-beam plates 12 and their bearing rings or races 60isurther maintained by reason of the previously described'spacing function of the lugs' 44 of the top head 40 (Fig. 4).1and the lugs 54 of the bottom head 50 which fit between the beam plate lugs18; all ofwhich-lugs receive the: cross-tie shafts 16.

With respectto the ball thrust bearings 28 between opposing hubs 14 and between the caps 26 and the outer, hubs 14, these include typical annular bearing rings or races 70, intervening balls 72and retainer cages 74,

these .units being mounted, as by press fitting,- into "annular seats75f in the respective hubs 14. With the bushings 30 and lock screws 33 in the caps 26 moaned 24=is easily accomplishedg For shift ofthesheaves 10 infrelation to the plates 12 asmay be required,j a nd to adjust propferly'the variousball bearings 28, the threaded. bushings 30 are turnedjdownlin their threaded openings 31 with their back walls 34 bearing: againstthe seats 27 in the endplates 12. 33 in the positions shown in Fig.6 binds all of the parts in their adjusted positions; By such means, replacement. j sheaves 10 and beam plates .12, may be constructed with much wider tolerances than ispermissible where structures must be producedwith only precision tolerances; As a consequence; replacements maybe made infthe' fieldwithout the necessity of transporting the" entire sheave-block to a shop, as, is commonly done. Also,.by this arrangement, the entire assembly of sheaves 10 with l their thrust bearings r28flmay be shifted axially when necessary, as forthe purpose of preventingcontact at the sheave groove elements 22 with thebeam plates 12.

As also seen inFi'g. 6,. grease tubes m are positioned within the thrust tube24, as by means of head plates 75, appropriate fittings 76, leading to grease chambers 77 within the-respective hub and roller thrust bearing assemblies, there, being a. tube 240 for each, bearing 15 28; Introduced grease will pass the ball bearings 28 t o supply therollerlbearing series 15, appropriate grease "seals being used, such as. laterally projecting rings birthe 'webs of the sheaves 10 and corresponding annular seats in the adjacent bearing rings 60 as indicated at 78.

When a sheave blockof this improvement is assembled, including the'top head 40 and the bottom head 50, the edges of the sheaves are covered by any type of curved protecting plates80 mounted in any appropriate manner, as by pins 81 (Fig. 2), and provided at their upper ends withtslots. 82 to pass the usual wire lines carried in sheave groove's'22. I v Y I r In 'Figs. 8 and 9 there is illustrated the previously mentioned modificationfof the sheave blocleof this. invention forcrownblocks.QHere the sheaves. 10 are arranged inalternating ,relationlwith beam plates 12a 7 whose endfportio ns project, 10, the opposite sides of l the sheaves suflicientlyfto rest upon the 'mentioned I-beatns 20 at the top of an oil well derrick. As seen in Fig.9,

the beam plate structures l2a.jmay be built up instead .ofcast, athin middlesmember 12a extending outward between the sheave.groove elements, thickened sections 85, lying withinthe sheave, groove elements,"beingappropriately connected to themiddle, elements 12a to provide the wide seat at each central openingto accommodate the two roller bearing series 15. Beyond the sheaves. lo lspacersindicated at, 86 are usedjto. position the plates 12a" at the plate ends,f'the cross straits 16a passing therethrough andmaintainingthe relationships. In practice, these spacers are conveniently thickened ends of theplatesj 12 or removed, adjustment of'the caps 26 on the thrust tube Positioning of the lockserews The described constructions provide for horizontal alignment of the axes of the sheaves and intervening beam plates in closely assembled relation, the entire assembly being readily adjusted through the medium of the caps 26 and associated adjusting means for properly positioning the sheaves along such axes and properly adjusting the thrust bearings 28, the loads on the various sheaves being borne by the adjacent beam plates 12 or 12a, thereby avoiding bending stresses which create distortion due to load deflection in sheave blocks where the sheaves are borne upon a common center pin or shaft whose ends are directly connected to main supporting means. Also, by the present constructions short over-all length is obtained and complete interchangeability of sheaves and beam plates with wide machining tolerances is possible. In the latter respect, stock parts can thus be changed in the field and replaced. The described adjustment through the caps 26 provides ready unit adjustment of the sheave assembly, especially with respect to the intervening beam plates whereby to 01?- set rubbing or touching of the sheave groove elements with the beam plates.

In the case of the traveling block the combined load on the assembled sheaves is transmitted continuously and evenly throughout the width of the block structure through the load-receiving cross shafts 16 and the lower suspension head 50 by way of its lugs 54 mounted on the shafts 16.

Thus, loads during operation are concentrated only at the bottom head clevis 52 which is readily cast to withstand such loads and does not impart load distor tion or deflection to cross shafts or pins supporting the sheaves.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sheave block construction, the combination of: end and intermediate plates arranged in axially spaced relation and respectively provided with axially aligned openings; sheaves interleaved with said plates and each provided with two axially extending, tubular hubs respectively projecting from opposite sides thereof, said opening in each of said end plates having disposed therein the adjacent one of said hubs of the adjacent one of said sheaves, and said opening in each of said intermediate plates having disposed therein in opposed end-to-end relation the adjacent pair of said hubs of the adjacent pair of said sheaves; journal bearings in said openings and respectively engaging said hubs therein to rotatably support said sheaves; intermediate thrust bearing means engaging said hubs which are within said opening in each of said intermediate plates for axially spacing apart the adjacent pair of said sheaves; end thrust bearings respectively engaging said hubs which are within said openings in said end plates; axial tie means extending through said hubs and adjustably engaging said end thrust bearings and said end plates, there being a radial running clearance between said axial tie means and said hubs; and other tie means located radially outwardly of said sheaves and extending through each of said intermediate plates and connected to said end plates.

2. A sheave block construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said axial tie means includes a tubular tie member within said hubs.

3. A sheave block construction asset forth in claim 1 wherein said axial tie means includes a tie member within said hubs and end caps adjustably connected to said tie member and seated against said end thrust bearings and said end plates.

4. A sheave block construction according to claim 3 including means for locking said end caps to said end plates.

5. A sheave block construction as defined in claim 3 including adjusting elements respectively threaded connected to said end caps and respectively seated on said end plates.

6. A sheave block construction according to claim 5 including means for locking said end caps and said end plates together.

7. A sheave block construction according to claim 5 including means for locking said end caps and said end plates together, said locking means including screws extending through said adjusting elements and threaded into said end plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,541 Nichols Nov. 21, 1939 2,218,412 Ball Oct. 15, 1940 2,459,290 Rozner Jan. 18, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 541,011 Germany Ian. 4, 1932 

